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Short Film

Succinct yet mighty films that demonstrate the virtuosity and craft of the short format.


Twelve elementary school kids sit on a gym floor, all looking to the right, seen from above.

1:10

Sinan Taner  |   Switzerland

A schoolyard tussle between two friends escalates when the kids’ self-righteous and macho fathers get involved.

Swiss German, Turkish
Coming of Age, Social Commentary
A webcam image of a woman holding a cat is superimposed over an animated background showing a cluttered round table.

Abortion Party

Julia Mellen  |   Spain
As the filmmaker narrates the events surrounding an abortion she had in college, the events she describes play out behind her in animated form. The initially irreverent tone, matching the [...]
English
Animation, Social Commentary, Women-Centered
A close up of a young girl looking out into the distance. Behind her, we glimpse a blurry lake.

all the love i could handle

Ruby Rose Collins  |   U.S.
all the love I could handle tells the story of a woman struggling to balance her artistic career with motherhood. Inspired by the life of filmmaker Kathleen Collins, this heart-wrenching [...]
English
Art, Family Affairs
An illustration of a station wagon with luggage strapped to the tops flies through a blue sky.

Are We There Yet? Gahts no lang?

Sven Kristlbauer, Raul Bison, Marion Zeder  |   Switzerland
During a long car ride, nine-year-old Timo escapes his parents' bickering by creating a fantasy world in the passing landscape. A spaceman and T. rex battle across the skies and [...]
Swiss-German
Animation, Family Friendly
In the center of a dark, flooded room with large windows, an animated ghost hunches over a grand piano.

Arguments in Favor of Love Argumentos a Favor do Amor

Gabriel Abrantes  |   Portugal
Against a backdrop of flooded apartments and fiery forests, two animated ghosts rehash old arguments. This anger, however, contains other feelings: the grief of loss and the love that bound [...]
English
Animation, Drama, Romance
A stressed woman wearing a blue jacket looks towards something beyond the camera

Arm and a Leg

Sam Clayton, Age 22  |   Chicago, Illinois, United States

Suffocated by the confines of suburban culture, April finds catharsis in wild, uninhibited physical movement.

English
Drama
An illustration rendered mostly in shades of green and white depicts a young girl with two braids walking through a forest.

Autokar

Sylwia Szkiłądź  |   Belgium, France
As eight-year-old Agata boards a full bus from Poland to Belgium by herself, she notices that those around her seem different. The magical realism of Autokar authentically recalls how strange [...]
French, Polish
Animation, Comedy, Coming of Age
A man stands with an upright base in silhouette back lit by a bright light

Bailey’s Blues

Shiloh Tumo Washington  |   U.S.
When a French journalist attempts to interview a Chicago-born blues musician, all of the bitter racial resentment of the 1960s bubbles up to the surface. What starts off as a [...]
English, French
Music
Distorted by a glitch effect, a blue-haired woman sits at a laptop with a messy desk and an open window in the background.

Blue Violet

Josie Charles  |   U.K.
Blue’s devotion to her beloved Violet knows no bounds, as the video compilation she’s assembled for Violet’s birthday attempts to convey. When hours pass with still no response to her [...]
English
Comedy, LGBTQ, Romance
A woman and her husband, adorned in traditional formal garb, sit together under a crowded party tent.

Breastmilk

Ifeyinwa Arinze  |   U.S., Nigeria
When new mother Aduke struggles to breastfeed, she encounters suggestions ranging from modern medical consultants to local folk remedies. As the women in her community rally in her corner, she [...]
English
Women-Centered
Two young women in t-shirts dance and their their heads around in front of a pink glowing backdrop

Chasing the Party

Jessie Komitor  |   U.S.
A night out in New York City goes in opposite directions for teenage best friends Melissa and Stephanie. One gets the club fantasy of their dreams; the other learns why [...]
English
Drama, Social Commentary, Women-Centered
Two Korean guys fighting with one guy holding a steel plate upward and the other guy using a broom to hit the plate

Check Please

Shane Chung, Age 22  |   Evanston, Illinois, United States

In this action comedy, a Korean and a Korean-American fight over their pride, honor, and who gets to pick up the tab.

Korean, English
Action
A group of mourning women cluster around the body of a young girl.

Chiquita Piconera

Mey Montero, Age 22  |   Spain

A grieving mother uses vibrant Spanish dancing to cope with the loss of her youngest daughter, but the intensity of her grief threatens her relationship with her eldest child.

Spanish
Drama, Music
A cow grazes at night. In the foreground, we see the torso of a man wearing army fatigues, holding a clear bottle.

The Cow Krava

Pavo Marinkovic  |   Croatia
In occupied Croatia, 1991, an army major moves into a hastily abandoned home with his wife and daughter, where he reluctantly cares for a left-behind bovine. The cow’s unexpected presence [...]
Croatian
Social Commentary
Two women, one wearing a hijab, face each other while sitting inside a dark car at night.

Coyotes

Said Zagha  |   France, Jordan, Palestine, U.K.
When Israeli soldiers interrupt her commute home, a Palestinian doctor is forced down a desolate road and her future is thrown into disarray. This film screens as part of Shorts [...]
Arabic, English, Hebrew
LGBTQ, Social Commentary, Thriller
A man and woman stare in judgement, sitting with notes and coffee at a table in a school library.

Debaters

Alex Heller  |   U.S.
High school strivers don their best business attire to compete at a congressional debate tournament. Rightful cynicism from the adults in the room gets directed at Anubhav, a first-timer who’s [...]
English
Comedy, Coming of Age
A colorful illustration depicts a floating hollow head split open to reveal landscapes, skies, and a cat

dipolar bipolar

Li Quankai  |   Japan
The busy and whimsical visual world of dipolar bipolar stuffs each frame with elements to mirror the workings of an anxious mind. As the protagonist recounts their experience of bipolar [...]
Chinese
Animation, Drama
A illustration desaturated of color depicts two women sitting on a stone ledge facing away from each other

Dog Alone Cão Sozinho

Marta Reis Andrade  |   Portugal, France
Marta Reis Andrade weaves thriller overtones throughout this autobiographical tale exploring loneliness. Featuring the voices of her family members, a subdued color palette, and sharp-angled character design, the story follows [...]
Portuguese
Animation, Comedy, Mystery
A colorful painted image of three chidren standing with their heads together in front of a door in a striped hallway

Dollhouse Elephant

Jenny Jokela  |   Finland
In this swirling flight through a busy apartment building, each resident navigates the unintended consequences of their neighbors' attempts to find equilibrium. Animating with acrylic paint on paper, Jenny Jokela [...]
No Dialogue
Animation, Comedy
A man floats in the air as he attempts a dance move in a roller skating ring. The room is dimly lit, resembling a dance club.

Dooni

Kevin Jerome Everson, Claudrena N. Harold  |   U.S.
Preacher Walter Hawkins eulogizes legendary singer Sylvester, who died of AIDS in 1988. “AIDS is not God’s punishment,” says Hawkins in this deeply moving film on faith, love, and triumph [...]
English
LGBTQ, Music, Religion
A woman kneels in grass, alongside others scattered around, all wearing black. Behind her, a woman stands and watches her.

Duck Duck Goose Irtizaz

Sara Balghonaim  |   Saudi Arabia
Juju, a recently divorced young woman, is pressured by her mother to make an impression as an eligible wife while attending a funeral. Chaos and hilarity ensues as she competes [...]
Arabic
Social Commentary, Women-Centered
A ventriloquist dummy leans forward from her chair to place a hand on the face of a young woman with a concerned expression.

Dummy!

Francesca Pazniokas  |   U.S.
Cecily dreams of following in her mother’s footsteps to become a famous cabaret singer, but there’s just one problem. In a world populated by ventriloquist dummies, Cecily is a human [...]
English
Comedy, Family Affairs, Women-Centered
A man with a pained expressin sits in a shadowy bathtub wearing headphones. A tear glistens under his right eye.

Earworm Öronmask

Patrik Eklund  |   Sweden
Ulph has been plagued by an earworm for weeks, fixating on the chorus of “Cotton Eye Joe” and bursting into song at the most inappropriate of times. When he finally [...]
Swedish
Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction
In black & white, a couple is in an argument. Between them are three people sitting on a couch, observing their conversation.

Exam Egzamin

Jan Naszewski  |   France, Poland
A couple are put to the test, literally, when they agree to participate in a joint therapy session that will be observed by an international panel of psychology experts. Proving [...]
Polish
Romance, Social Commentary
A young woman wears a pink bathing suit and an ill-fitting pink shower cap, with goggles around her neck.

Heartsick

MK Quane  |   Ireland
Spiraling from a recent breakup, Jess writes a detailed email to her ex to prove how well she is doing, with a few embellishments here and there… An utterly charming [...]
English
LGBTQ, Romance
A Latino man and an Black man in a light blue prison uniform smile at each other while sitting at a desk.

Hey Hugo Annie Xia & Ysa Quiballo, Ages 21 & 22

Annie Xia, Ysa Quiballo  |   Chicago, Illinois, United States

Hugo, a well-loved family man, has spent nine years in prison for murder he insists he did not commit. As he waits for his case to be reopened and his conviction overturned, his family recounts fond memories with him.

English
Social Commentary
A little girl sits in the backseat of a car facing the back.She looks over her shoulder to an older man, sitting beside her.

Hippopotami He Ma

JJ Lin  |   China, Hong Kong
When a young girl embarks on a highly anticipated trip to the zoo with her parents and some unexpected strangers, she comes to understand a new side of her parents’ [...]
Mandarin Chinese
Coming of Age, Family Affairs
One person lays their head on top of another person's chest, as they both lie asleep. A multicolored light shines on them.

Hold Me Close

Aurora Brachman, LaTajh Weaver  |   U.S.
Through audio recordings created by a couple over the course of a season, this film portrays and celebrates the love shared between two women. Shot exclusively inside the apartment where [...]
English
LGBTQ, Romance
In a cluttered room, we see two young boys are sitting side by side in the reflection of a dirty mirror.

Honey, My Love, So Sweet

JT Trinidad  |   Philippines
In a building housing an old cinema on its last legs, a child discovers their true identity through the magic of the movies and the quiet curiosities of everyday life. [...]
Filipino, Tagalog
Coming of Age, Family Affairs
An illustration of Martin Luther King Jr dressed in a shirt and tie driving a basketball down a court in a gym

Hoops, Hopes & Dreams

Glenn Kaino  |   U.S.
Basketball has played a crucial role in the political lives of two of the defining figures of American history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama. Using archival footage, [...]
English
Political, Sports
A man and a pregnant woman, seen from above and both nude and painted white, spoon on a rumpled sheet.

Hotel Acropole Hôtel Acropole

Sarah Lasry  |   France
In the throes of grief after her partner Hugo’s recent passing, Rivka, a pregnant woman with a mysterious wound along her spine, checks into Hotel Acropole. On the evening before [...]
French
Drama, Horror, Women-Centered
A metal bucket filled with dark liquid and a cut off nose inside sits beside someone's foot

How to Smell Without a Nose

Esther Yun Kong, Age 21  |   Brooklyn. New York, United States

A dark and impactful short about the Korean war illustrated through the prosecution of a Joseon woman.

Korean
Horror
A man with a grey beard looks up towards the sky intensely. Behind him is the sea and the sunset on the horizon.

I’m Glad You’re Dead Now

Tawfeek Barhom  |   France, Greece, Palestine
When their father dies, two brothers must return home to face their complicated past and find a way to move beyond their history. Palestinian actor Tawfeek Barhom makes his directorial [...]
Arabic
Family Affairs
A woman in a red and yello sweater plays a large harp in a recordoinmg studio with brightly colored walls

Isis & Osiris

Ephraim Asili  |   U.S.
Brandee Younger takes us through her journey as a musician, her path to learning harp, and eventually finding the works of Alice Coltrane. Her story is beautifully accompanied by her [...]
English
Music
A young woman wearing a white feathery coat and braids gestures mid sentence.

It’s Just a Fucking Opening

Josh Brainin, Camille Bacon, Youssef Boucetta  |   U.S.
Up-and-coming artist Anisa is woefully unprepared for the pettiness and performative antics taking place at the gallery opening for her latest pieces. Everything but the artwork seems to take center [...]
English, French
Art, Comedy, Drama
Close up of a parrot looking out into the distance, behind bars. One of his paws lays on a bar.

Koki, Ciao

Quenton Miller  |   Netherlands
This deeply singular short film is a humorous autobiography of sorts about a parrot named Koki, who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous people of the 20th century. [...]
Croatian
Comedy, Political
A bare chested man stis on a canoe at night, as he blows a green powder on his hand, and holds a bowl with his other hand.

Lanawaru

Angello Faccini Rueda  |   Colombia, Mexico, U.S.
As a community grapples with the disappearance of one of their own, a young boy receives spiritual guidance from his grandfather. Hypnotic and profound, Lanawaru depicts one community’s bond with [...]
Spanish
Coming of Age, Environmental
A rough line illustration of a boy opening a door to a pair of green monster eyes staring at him.

Lily

Kate Siegel  |   U.S.
Adapted by Stephen King from one of his first short stories, Lily is a spooky tale about the terrors of elementary school. Between a cruel teacher in the classroom and [...]
English
Animation, Family Friendly, Lierary Adaptation
An animated man in a yellow cap holds a plastic bag of pills in one hand and his phone in the other while driving a car.

Luz Diabla

Gervasio Canda, Paula Boffo, Patricio Plaza  |   Argentina, Canada
On his way to a rave in the Argentine Pampas, a young queer man gets into an accident. Taking refuge in a mysterious rural tavern where he is conspicuously out [...]
Spanish
Animation, Horror, LGBTQ
A young woman with glasses sits next to a young man in a wheelchair reading a book. They are poolside, among a crowd.

Made of Sugar De sucre

Clàudia Cedó  |   Spain
Maria, a neurodivergent woman, decides to claim autonomy over her own body, refusing the societal norms and structural barriers telling her she can’t. Quietly revolutionary, this film depicts Maria’s journey [...]
Catalan
Sex and Sexuality, Women-Centered
A curly-haired woman stands near a Christmas tree, inspecting a small wrapped gift.

Madrina

Missy Hernandez  |   U.S.
A conflicted woman returns home for the holidays after two years of no contact. Under the leering eyes of family, she regains her voice in defense of herself and her [...]
English
Drama, Family Affairs
A performer stands onstage before a microphone with their arms outstretched bathed in pink light.

Make No Mistake: These Are the Glory Days

Texas Smith  |   U.S.
While on tour for their sophomore album, emo band HOME IS WHERE pulls up to venues across the country and provides moments of community, celebration, and freedom for their trans-forward [...]
English
LGBTQ, Music
A stuffed, humanoid doll with a man's face projected onto it sits at a table in a room full of plastic-covered furniture.

Manakin

Kasey Oldford  |   U.S.
A single woman living alone is in search of a companion, so she builds one, stuffing discarded nylon stockings until they take on the approximate shape of a human man. [...]
English
Romance, Social Commentary
In black and white, a young man sits in the window of a Chinese restaurant at night. He is on the phone and looking outside.

Moonluck Wonton

Siddiq Saunderson  |   U.S.
When Jamie finds a mysterious trombone case one night—the contents of which might change his life forever—he convenes an emergency meeting with his friends. Part mystery-thriller, part hang-out comedy, this [...]
English
Noir
Sitting behind a microphone set-up, a woman recites lines during a recording session.

Narrated By

Khaya Fraites  |   U.S.
A normal day in the recording studio for voice actress Candice takes a sudden turn when a former fling shows up as her scene partner. Past resentment and underlying chemistry [...]
English
Romance
A young man wearing an eyepatch stands in a doorway facing outside, with his arm reaching out and a sad expression.

Nervous Energy

Eve Liu  |   U.S.
Two fiercely ambitious aspiring filmmakers make a pact to break up with their boyfriends to free them up for the next phase of their careers. This hilarious take on the [...]
English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese
Art, Women-Centered
A close up of a young woman with her ear pressed against a wall, seemingly trying to listen on what's on the other side.

The Non-Actor

Eliza Barry Callahan  |   U.S.
When a young woman travels to Los Angeles to treat hearing loss, she stays at her ex’s house with his current girlfriend, who she is meeting for the first time. [...]
English
Drama
A close-up watercolor illustration of a man’s face, featuring his expressive eyes.

Not Dead Morto Não

Alex Reis  |   Brazil
An experimental work that blends animation, stop motion, and live-action performances provides a contemporary interpretation of W.E.B DuBois’s The Soul of Black Folks. We follow the love and pain of [...]
Portuguese
Drama, Family Affairs
A man in a cowboy hat walks down a dark tunnel towards a big source of light tainted red.

Now, Be Still

Myles Keogh  |   U.S.
A young doctor has a series of strange experiences in this beguiling and unclassifiable work. Playing with genre, sound, and narrative, Now, Be Still is an experience that will continually [...]
English
Drama, Noir
An illustration of a large brown rat reading over the shoulder of a boy as they sit on a green chaise lounge.

On the Mat Outside My Door Vor meiner Tür auf einer Matte

Antje Heyn  |   Germany
Rhymed couplets express the irritation caused by an uninvited rat guest. Based on a book by Nadia Budde, this short humorously advocates for sharing space and time with others. This [...]
English
Animation, Family Friendly
Shown in profile against a dark background, a blond transmasculine person kisses another person made up to resemble the moon.

Once in a Full Moon

Bande James Bond (Cilu Dièl, Ernesto Fag, Popo La Sodo)  |   Belgium
In a stylish and sensual fantasy world, a young vampire falls in love with the moon. The two yearn to consummate their impossible romance, and when the vampire is offered [...]
French
Comedy, Fantasy, LGBTQ
An illustration rendered in muted pastels depics a woman's hand gently lifting the lip of a white dog with a black nose

Ordinary Life Futsu no Seikatsu

Yoriko Mizushiri  |   France, Japan
Yoriko Mizushiri's gorgeous short lulls the viewer into a dreamy tactile world. A meditation on the beauty of simplicity led by a graphic design that seems at once exacting and [...]
No Dialogue
Animation, Art
Paper cut-outs of various creatures crowd the frame, one holds a broken heart.

Paper Love

Jeremi Rzadowski, Age 9  |   Poland

When a princess decides to escape from a possessive ruler, she wonders if her desire for freedom will triumph over the king’s despotic visions.

No Dialogue
Animation
An illustration of a girl sitting on an airplane with her knees pulled up to her chest.

Paradaïz

Matea Radic  |   Canada
In her first film, Canadian artist and animator Matea Radic imagines an impossible return. Paradaïz follows a young woman as she travels back to a city still unstable with the [...]
No Dialogue
Animation, Comedy, Family Affairs
A woman wearing an apron in a dark hallway looks up in awe, her face is lit up.

Perfect Casting

Autumn English, Age 22  |   Chicago, Illinois, United States

Told through dynamic visuals and quirky character designs, this animated tale follows the founding of an unlikely friendship.

English
Animation
A fly rests on an extreme close-up of a blue iris with eyelashes to the left and right. The eye seems to belong to a corpse.

Pinpoint

Michael Merlino  |   U.S.
Wolfe, a struggling medical student who aspires to become an anesthesiologist, has been hounding his professor for more cadaver time for weeks. Between his instructor’s harsh criticisms and classmates who [...]
English
Horror, Thriller
A colorful illustration of two people in traditional indigenous dress standing on the floor of a gym

Pow!

Joey Clift  |   U.S.
An intertribal powwow struggles to hold Jake's attention despite his family's encouragement to participate. As his mobile video game console's battery grows worryingly low, Jake tries everything in his power [...]
English
Animation, Family Friendly
A simple line illustration depicts a man with glasses sitting on a bus staring ahead

Retirement Plan

John Kelly  |   Ireland
John Kelly's simple and short animation has been a notable crowd-pleaser on the 2025 festival circuit. Featuring beloved Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson and a delicate score, this witty film lists [...]
English
Animation, Comedy
An illustration of a polar bear walking on transparent ice while a whale swims beneath him framed from overhead.

Snow Bear

Aaron Blaise  |   U.S.
Due to changing conditions in his snowy home, a polar bear must adapt to keep from being lonely. The hand-drawn animation by Disney alum Aaron Blaise depicts the wondrous beauty [...]
No Dialogue
Animation, Environamental, Family Friendly
A black and white image of a person falling through an endless black abyss.

The Mechanization of Man

Eion Nunez, Age 17  |   Los Angeles, California, United States

Diagnosed with terminal insomnia, Cillian clings to his past, obsessively building a time machine in his final days only for it to fail.

English
Science Fiction, Thriller
A group of 20-somethings gather excitedly to smoke in the backyard, dressed in all black.

Them That’s Not

Mekhai Lee  |   U.S.
Drea belongs to a family that loves to judge each other, even in the middle of grief. A return to her late grandmother’s house forces a reckoning with how she’s [...]
English, American Sign Language
Coming of Age
A computer-generated image depicts the outlines of a tree in a forest with tiny dots of light.

This is not your Garden Este no es tu jardín

Carlos Velandia, Angélica Restrepo  |   Colombia
In this hypnotic short, new media artists Carlos Velandia and Angélica Restrepo use data visualization to document mist forests and páramos near Bogota, ecosystems that are facing existential threat due [...]
Spanish
Animation, Environmental
Over the shoulder shot from the point of view of a receptionist who is looking at a woman taking out money from her wallet.

Transaction

Wanjeri Gakuru  |   Kenya
As a 25th birthday present to herself, a woman decides to hire a male sex worker so that she can lose her virginity. This short film is a powerful exploration [...]
Kikuyu, Kiswahili
Sex and Sexuality, Social Commentary
An orange empty can with arms and a face hugs a meatball

Tsuna the empty can – Meatball and Spaghetti

Iku Ogawa  |   Japan
A cute empty tuna can makes a new meatball best friend. All is well on the kitchen counter until a jealous mess of spaghetti begins to act suspiciously. Tsuna must [...]
No Dialogue
Animation, Family Friendly
A woman with intricate braids stands in front of a gate, with a colorful balloon display by her side.

Victoria

Sam Soko  |   U.S. Kenya
We join Victoria during the most hectic week of her year as a helium balloon saleswoman. As we follow her from one children’s birthday party to another, we also get [...]
English
Women-Centered
A middle aged man holds his mother's hand as they both sit in a room, in front of a window.

Visiting Hours

Carol Salter  |   U.K.
During his daily visits to his ailing mother Rose, Tony helps her remember the past in this quietly beautiful portrait of aging, loss, and shared tenderness between mother and son. [...]
English
Family Affairs
Against a tile-covered wall, a stream of yellow liquid passes through the center of two hands held together to form a heart.

Water Sports

Whammy Alcazaren  |   Philippines
Two students, Jelson and Ipe, prepare for life in their hyper-stylized world ravaged by climate change through feats of physical strength and endurance. However, the force that binds them together [...]
Tagalog
Comedy, Environmental, LGBTQ
An illustration of a young man and an older man playing chess in a sun-filled room,

Wednesdays with Gramps

Chris Copeland & Justin Copeland  |   U.S.
Written and directed by two brothers who grew up in Chicago, this funny and stylish new animation from DreamWorks follows the relationship between grandfather and grandson. The pair bond over [...]
No Dialogue
Animation, Family Friendly
A painterly illustration of a small boy with dark curly hair standing next to a giant whale on a beach

Yore Gramps and the Whale Seu Vô e a Baleia

Mariana Elisabetsky  |   Brazil
As a child in a fishing family, Mundinho's life is connected to the sea. When his beloved grandfather dies, a magical whale that only Mundinho can see appears on the [...]
Portuguese
Animation, Family Friendly
A young man stands with his arms around a young woman with Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline in the background.

Your Tomorrow Will Be My Song

Fernando Saldivia Yáñez  |   Chile, U.S.
In this heartfelt re-enactment, Suni and Alondra discuss a return to their home in the Andes and what their future wedding could look like. Together, they contemplate blending their new [...]
Quechua, Spanish
Social Commentary

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